Local artist Salma Arastu publishes The Lyrical Line, a poignant book of paintings and poetry
BERKELEY, CA, February 10, 2009 -- Born in Rajasthan, India, Salma Arastu has been painting for more than thirty years. She has published her accomplishments in The Lyrical Line: Embracing All and Flowing, a collection of much of her work over the last ten years, which includes paintings, sculpture, digital art and poetry. The hardcover book is 104 pages long and contains 120 full-color images.

Salma has exhibited her work in dozens of galleries in India, the U.S. and Europe and has won several awards for her paintings, which are deeply influenced by spirituality, Arabic calligraphy, folk art and the colors and traditions of Rajasthan. Colors, textures and continuous lines are intricately layered throughout her artwork, which conveys messages of unity, diversity, peace and spirituality.

Professor Ricardo Viera, Director/Curator of Lehigh University Art Galleries in Bethlehem, PA, says of Salma’s work, “Salma Arastu is blessed with a fluent and lyrical visual language. She is a diverse and solid multi-cultural humanist. As a woman, Hindu and Muslim, her work reflects, as well as transcends, all barriers with compassion and creative elegance.”

The Lyrical Line is published by Half Full Press, located in Oakland, CA, as part of their Emerging American Artists series. Through high-quality, reasonably-priced printing, the program is designed to assist artists in making their works available to a larger audience. To learn more about the program, please visit www.EmergingAmericanArtists.com.